‘Blue Martini’ murder trial continues today
Shawn Harris called ‘Shawny’
Shawn Harris called ‘Shawny’

THE trial into the 2017 murder of Sunil Singh called ‘Grey’, who was killed in the vicinity of the Blue Martini nightclub in Kitty, continued on Monday, December 09, 2019, before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury, at the High Court.
Currently on remand for the indictment is 31-year-old Shawn Harris called ‘Shawny’, formerly of Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The charge alleged that Harris, on February 5, 2017, at Owen Street, Kitty, murdered Singh.

Harris is represented by attorney-at-law Maxwell McKay while the state is represented by prosecutors Shawnette Austin and Sarah Martin.
On Monday, Inspector Prem Narine took to the witness stand and testified that he was involved in the investigation into the murder of Singh.
Narine explained that, during that period, he was stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and was attached to the Major Crime Unit.
According to Narine, on February 18, 2017, about 19:20 hours he received certain information and went to ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown where he contacted Shawn Harris, whom he had known a year before.

However, Narine said when he put the allegation to Harris, the man replied to him “Sir when I reach the station I gon tell you wah happen”
Narine told the court that he noticed some wounds on Harris’ leg, and, when he inquired about them, the man said that he received the injuries when he fell down the steps at Blue Martini.

The Inspector recalled taking Harris back to the CID, Headquarters and taking a caution statement from him in the presence of a police rank, Corporal Laundry.

Harris, in the presence of Corporal Laundry had the allegation put to him by Narine.
Narine said he told Harris of his rights and anything he said will be put in writing and will be used against him in court. Harris agreed.

The witness told the court that Harris told him that it was not a robbery but instead a fight.
While in custody, Narine said, Harris was showed a CCTV footage from the day in question at Blue Martini and pointed himself out in the video.

“Ya see what I tell you is them man attack me at the bar and I attack them” the witness said was what Harris told him.

According to the witness, Harris then told him that he and some friends were drinking at Seeta’s bar, Station Street Kitty, and decided to go to Blue Martini because “ it get nuff whores and does open late.”

Narine said that Harris further told him that when he arrived at the Club nobody was at the door so he and his friends walked in.

However, they were rushed by two men. One of the men ‘Buck man’ knocked him with a baton. He identified the other man as Singh. Both parties ended up in a fight.
The Inspector told the court that Harris, in his caution statement, said that he (Harris) pulled out a knife and stabbed Singh two times and then ran behind ‘Buck man’ and stabbed him also.

This caused Singh to run out of the club and over the road and Harris followed him. Singh then asked Harris why he stabbed him since they knew each.
Harris in his caution statement said that he did not reply and went home. While at home he noticed blood on his skin and the wound on his knees.
“Is na no robbery like wah people sayin…it was a fight” Inspector Narine said that was what Harris told him.

The trial continues today (Tuesday, December 10, 2019).
According to reports, patrol ranks went to the Blue Martini Nightclub and closed the club about 02:45hrs on February 5, 2017, after which they left.
However, shortly after, according to Charles Valenzuela, an employee of the nightspot, three men arrived and wanted to enter the club.

At that point in time, the young man informed them that the club was closed and that resulted in an argument, during which one of the men stabbed Valenzuela to his left arm.
Singh, who was present at the time, intervened and was trying to make peace, when the suspect dealt Singh a ‘lash’ to his head.

Singh then reportedly ran north into Railway Street, Kitty, and was pursued by his attacker, who caught up with him and stabbed him several times.

Both Singh and Valenzuela were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Valenzuela was treated and sent away.
Harris was released from prison in 2016, after serving a sentence on a drug charge. He was also charged in connection with the Bank of Baroda robbery committed at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, on January 22, 2016.

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